FAQs: Family Photography

Sessions are available Monday to Friday, at a time that suits you. For families, a limited number of weekends are also available September-March.

Parents often arrange weekday family shoots on inset days or in the school holidays.

I recommend a 10am start where possible, for the best natural light, but sessions can be booked throughout the day to suit your schedule.

For families, we’re after a time when your children won’t be particularly tired or hungry.

For older children, after school shoots also work well – I can bring some compact lights with me for when the daylight fades.

Once you’ve booked, I’ll send you a prep guide including a set of pointers on what to wear, and makeup tips too if you wear it.

I’ll send you an information gathering form to find out more about you and your priorities.

We’ll then arrange a phone consultation to discuss your photoshoot, and what you’d like from your photos.

My goal is for you to feel fully prepped before your session, so we have a good idea of the look and feel of the photos you’re after.

I’ll give you a (short!) list of what to have to hand.

The simple answer is clothes that you feel good in.

I’ve put together lots of tips and pointers over the years based on what works particularly well, as well as some things to avoid – and will share this with you before your session.

We’ll discuss this before your session. In brief, this might include favourite toys, storybooks, bikes, scooters, squeaky toys for babies, picnic blankets and a change of clothes in case of muddy puddles! It’s also a good idea to bring snacks and a drink with you for your children.

We’ll start your session at home. After an hour or so, we can head outdoors to your favourite park or to a location that will make for interesting backdrops. 

I totally understand feeling camera shy – I fall into this camp myself!

As a full-time photographer, I’ve developed a range of techniques over the years to help people who are nervous about being in front of the camera.

I’ll always make sure you feel comfortable, and I’ll never ask you to pose awkwardly – I promise you’ll never feel silly.

No matter how camera shy you or your partner feel, focus on the main goal – meaningful photographs that will bring back memories of family life for years to come. Your children will cherish the photographs when they grow up, and won’t give a hoot about whether your waistline used to be more streamlined in your youth! You can read more about how I photograph camera shy parents here.

For newborns, I recommend either 7-10 days from your baby’s EDD (not their actual arrival date), or waiting for their 6-week milestone. You can see more on this here: blokestoke.com/scheduling-newborn-photography

For babies and older children, the simple answer is any age! Don’t worry too much, I’ve got years of experience with all ages and can take beautiful photographs no matter how old your baby or child is. There are ages that work particularly well for portrait sessions, though – see this blog post for my recommendations.

I’ll look for fairly similar lighting conditions, so even if it’s a very sunny day, we’ll find some gentle shade for flattering photographs. I’ll make the most of each season, but we certainly don’t need a particular time of year.

Please bear in mind that my busiest times are April-July and September-November so if you’d like a session in these months, plan a couple of months ahead (at least) to avoid disappointment.

Headshots: the most important thing is to start connecting with your clients now. Don’t wait six months until Summer – your clients are on your website now, looking at stale photos! 

Families: I photograph families throughout the year. Each season has something special to offer, so my main advice here is not to worry too much about the time of year.

If it’s a rainy day, we’ll keep an eye on the weather and go outside when there’s a break in the rain. It never rains solidly for hours! Umbrellas can be fun to incorporate in the photographs too, and we can head to interesting locations that provide cover.

Read more on the different times of year here.